Flight operations at Chennai International Airport were significantly impacted on Monday morning as heavy fog reduced visibility in the region. The reduced visibility led to several flight cancellations and delays, with Air India advising passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
In a statement posted on its official handle on X, Air India warned passengers about potential disruptions to flights. “Poor visibility may impact flight operations to and from Chennai and some cities in Southern India, like Tirupati and Tiruchirapalli. Kindly check your flight status before heading to the airport,” the airline advised.
Although the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) did not issue any specific warnings for Southern India, the weather conditions remained challenging for air travel, as visibility was significantly lowered across the region. The dense fog and chilly weather have caused a ripple effect, with delays reported not only at Chennai Airport but also at Delhi’s IGI Airport, where planes were delayed due to similar fog conditions.
In the capital city, the cold wave has led to an increase in the number of people seeking shelter in night shelters, as the winter frost continues to deepen in Northern India. The IMD issued an orange advisory for the Delhi/NCR region, forecasting intense fog conditions, which contributed to major disruptions in rail services.
Several trains were delayed due to the poor visibility, with some trains experiencing delays of several hours. Among the affected trains were:
- The Purushottam Express, delayed by 311 minutes
- The Poorva Express, delayed by 198 minutes
- The JBP NZM SF Express and Shramjeevi Express, delayed by 187 and 197 minutes
- The NDLS Humsafar and Kaifiyat Express, delayed by 107 and 68 minutes
- The MP Sampark Kranti Express, delayed by 65 minutes
- The Gondwana Express and YPR Sampark Kranti Express, delayed by 92 and 91 minutes
The IMD also reported a low temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius at Delhi’s Palam and 9.4 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, contributing to the widespread fog in the region.
Sources By Agencies